- Isaías Marques Soares
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Isaías Personal information Full name Isaías Marques Soares Date of birth November 17, 1963 Place of birth Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) Playing position Forward Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1987 Cabofriense ? (?) 1987–1988 Rio Ave 30 (5) 1988–1990 Boavista 67 (22) 1990–1995 Benfica 124 (53) 1995–1997 Coventry City 12 (2) 1997–1999 Campomaiorense 57 (18) 2000–2001 Cabofriense 2002–2003 Friburguense * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).Isaías Marques Soares (born 17 November 1963), simply Isaías, is a retired Brazilian footballer who played as a forward.
Contents
Football career
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Isaías started his career with lowly Associação Desportiva Cabofriense, then moved to Portugal in 1987, gradually moving up the ranks: first with Rio Ave FC, then Boavista FC, arriving at S.L. Benfica in 1990.
At Benfica, he quickly became a fan favourite at Estádio da Luz, being also referred to as a "force of nature", due to his stamina and combativeness. He also found the net with frequence, being the owner of a powerful long-range shot. Arguably his greatest moment with the Lisbon club came on November 6, 1991, in the last round prior to the group stage of the European Cup: against Arsenal, at Highbury Park, he assisted and scored twice in a 3–1 success (4–2 aggregate).
However, Isaías would be left out of the Benfica squad in 1995, by then-coach Artur Jorge. The manager was proceeding to a team reshuffle that would result in the darkest period in the club's history. At that time, the veteran was still one of the squad's most influential players and top scorers.
Subsequently, Isaías moved to England with Coventry City for £500.000, signing a two-year contract with the Sky Blues, and becoming the first Brazilian to ever play in the Premier League. He played in just 12 league games for the team over a period of two seasons, scoring twice.[1]
In 1997, aged nearly 34, Isaías returned to Portugal with S.C. Campomaiorense, after which he retired in his country at almost 40, playing amateur football. Subsequently, he appeared in a few games with the Portuguese beach soccer team, courtesy of his previously obtained citizenship.
Honours
- Benfica:
- Portuguese League: 1990–91, 1993–94
- Portuguese Cup: 1992–93
- Campomaiorense:
- Portuguese Cup: Runner-up 1998–99
References
External links
Categories:- 1963 births
- Living people
- Brazilian footballers
- Association football forwards
- Associação Desportiva Cabofriense players
- Primeira Liga players
- Rio Ave F.C. players
- Boavista F.C. players
- S.L. Benfica footballers
- S.C. Campomaiorense players
- Premier League players
- Coventry City F.C. players
- Brazilian expatriate footballers
- Expatriate footballers in Portugal
- Expatriate footballers in England
- Benfica:
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